Lionesses – Female Lions

Lionesses, female lions, give birth to cubs away from the pride. Typically, a lioness will have between one and four cubs in one litter. Since cubs are born completely helpless, she keeps them hidden from all animals, including her own pride. Cubs don’t even open their eyes until 3-11 days of age. When the cubs are about eight weeks old, she finally introduces them to her pride.

Many females in a pride give birth around the same time; consequently, they raise cubs of a similar age together. This synchronicity makes it natural for the mothers to care for, protect, and feed each other’s young. In fact, lionesses often nurse cubs that are not their own; therefore, they provide a truly communal system of care for the entire pride

Hunting Training

The skill of hunting is one every lion must possess. It means the difference between eating and starving. Contrary to popular opinion, lionesses are not the only hunters in the pride, so male cubs must also learn to hunt. Hunting training begins around three months of age. Although cubs still nurse, the lionesses take them to eat after a kill.

Protection

One of the most important jobs of a lioness is to protect her cubs. Depending on the conditions, 40-80% die before turning one. There are two reasons for this: starvation and coalition invaders. A coalition is a group of ousted male lions from another pride. Their main goal is to find a pride of females. When they do find a pride, they must first fight the existing males. If they succeed, the coalition then goes after the cubs.

Scientists believe that male lions kill cubs so that females will mate sooner; consequently, this behaviour ensures that the males pass on their own genes. The lionesses, however, do everything in their power to protect their young. They will sometimes fight to the death or gang up on intruding males; furthermore, while a single lioness cannot defeat a larger male alone, the group often succeeds by working together.

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